Shaving gear Archives - Shavette Razor

Dovo Shavette Review by Thomas B

Thomas Brenton who works as a professional barber just outside Los Angeles sent us this review of the Dovo Shavette:

I work as a barber, and I am used to handling most types of razors, including safety razors, barber knifes and more recently also Dovo Shavette Razors. I really does not matter which Dovo Shavette you are getting as long as it is made by Dovo. I usually buy this one which includes a batch of my favorite blades.

The reason for using the red (or black if you have lighter skin) blade holder is that it becomes very clear when you hold it to your skin, which prevents accidental cutting even in darker rooms.

The razor is easy to handle compared to the heavier barber knife or regular straight razor. It is so light so it follows every move you make with your hands, and as soon as you learn to master it you won’t let it go. It works great to use with either hand, and the blade holder actually serves for protection from deep cuts.

When I do professional shaving I change blades for every new customer. The blade insertion is a simple process that takes less than one minute and this way I can assure my customers that they are getting really great shaves since the blades are always new and sharp. At home I have started using the Dovo Shavette instead of my old Straight Razor. I just prefer the feel of it, but I only change blades once per week (I shave every other day).

Best blades for a Shavette Razor

The Dovo Shavette Razor uses disposable DE blades. DE stands for Double Edged and one blade usually lasts between five and ten shaves depending on the thickness of your beard, how well you have prepared and the quality of the blade.

Remember, double edged blades are blades that you bend and break in the middle and split into two parts. So each blade is actually two blades for your Shavette. This is good news!

I often get the question: Which blades should I buy for my Shavette?

The answer is: it depends. This is a matter of taste, and if you are a beginner it is hard to know what kind of blade you like. Usually i recommend buying a Razor Blade Sample pack from Amazon. For around $15-20 you get around 60 really nice blades for your Shavette Razor. Then you can test them all and bulk up on the one you like most. If you can not feel or see any difference – go for the cheapest.

Should I try a Shavette Razor?

Many people ask me if they should try a Shavette Razor. They have been shaving all their lives with other kind of shaving tools. Most common is a normal Gillette Safety Razor or an Electrical Shaver.

I always give the same recommendation: try it for yourself and see.

If you happen to like it there are two big advantages for you.

You will look cool while shaving
You will probably save money

The first one is a given. All your buddies will think you are the coolest guy for shaving with something that in their eyes looks like a real barber knife.
The reason you will save money is because of the blades for a Shavette is many times cheaper than Gillette Blades. It is really expensive to be a Gillette guy, but if you can learn how to shave with a Shavette Razor you won’t have to shell out for these expensive blades.

So, go ahead and try it. Amazon has a good deal on a Dovo Shavette Razor with 100 razor blades (yes, one hundred blades) that I’ll think would be a great starting point. Go ahead and buy one today and you’ll see how great it is.

Dovo Shavette Review by Bob Sylvester

Bob writes:
I received a brand new Dovo Shavette today. It was my first Shavette, so with great honor I unboxed the package and found a small plastic packaging with a very stylish Shavette Razor inside.

My first impression was that is was very light. It is made from aluminium and I have learned that professional barbers want pretty light tools since they are using them all day long. Too heavy equipment could make them tired faster.

The aluminium finish makes the Shavette look very professional. I get that some of you like the old style of straight razors, but this is definitely more stylish than a normal safety razor. The Shavette comes with two blades (basically one blade that you break into two pieces) and two different blade holders. I went for the long holder that is designed for the longer blades.

I was struck by how sharp a Shavette really is. If you are not careful you could easily cut yourself on your first try. For comparison I shaved half my face with the Shavette and half of it with a Gillette Fusion Safety Razor. The latter is probably one of the best safety razors on the market today.

The safety razor is easier to use, of course. But the the difference in result was noticeable. The shavette left nothing, but I could still feel the beard where the Gillette razor had been. Since I am not used to the Shavette it took a long time to get the shaving done. I was probably too careful, but i still managed to cut myself just a little bit. Luckily I ordered a small Alum stick that stops the bleeding with in seconds and I never felt any pain since the Shavette was so sharp. No marks left now either.

The Dovo Shavette looks good, it is pretty easy to change blades, and is easy to hold when shaving. That means I think it is a good thing to try if you want to shave like the pros do.

For a quick shave in the morning I will probably still use the Gillette razor, but whenever I have the time or need a really good shave (for the ladies) I will definitely use the Shavette. I just need to get better on how to use it.

This was sent to us by Bob Sylvester, thanks Bob! Please leave a comment if you want to send us a review and we will publish it here on the site.

What is the difference between a Shavette Razor and a Straight Razor?

A Shavette is basically a straight razor, a shaving tool that looks more like a barber’s knife than a regular safety razor from Gillette or Wilkinson.

The first main difference is price. The Shavette is much cheaper than a straight razor. That is good for you, and that makes the Shavette a great starting place if you want to shave more like the pros but don’t want to hand out that much cash to get started.

Another difference is the blade. A shavette razor uses disposable blades (like regular razor blades that you throw away after a couple of uses). This means that you have to replace your blades after 5 to 10 uses, when it gets unsharp. The straight razor works more like a knife that you have to sharpen with special tools. It is hard to get a straight razor to be as sharp as a Shavette, so if you want a really close shave I guess the Shavette should do a better job. Professional barbers also argue that is more hygienic to use disposable blades, but for home use that argument is not worth much.

If you have sensitive skin, I would recommend using a shavette instead of a straight razor.